Countdown
David was glad that a few people showed up at his New Year's
party. Everyone was snowed in. This was the first time he can remember
having a snow storm this severe in Arkansas. Kris, Debbie, and Justin
managed to come to the party. Partially because they lived on the same
street.
He had food and drinks along with fireworks. But there would be
no fireworks tonight. The snow was still falling. The four of them sat
around the TV watching the New Year's Countdown in Memphis. The snow
storm didn't reach Tennessee. So, Memphis had its Beale Street party and
broadcast it on TV.
Midnight was near. Only one minute to go. Kris turned up the TV
for the countdown and got her noisemaker ready. Justin was snacking on
crackers and ham while Debbie was sitting on the edge of her seat
waiting.
They all counted in unison. "Five.... Four.... Three....
Two.... One. Happy New Year!" They all cheered. The people on the
television cheered. Fireworks went off over the Mississippi River.
But then all the joyous cheers turned into screams of fear. David
noticed Justin growing long hair under his chin. Debbie's face was
elongating into a muzzle. Long horns sprouted from Kris's head. David
noticed that his feet were now black cloven hooves. They all had brown
fur with dark stripes. Everyone was changing. The same thing was
happening to the people on TV.
After a minute, David saw three humanoid wildebeest where his
guests were sitting. He also realized that he, too, was a humanoid
wildebeest. All the people on TV were wildebeest. The party on Beale
Street had turned into a riot. He was glad that the four of them
remained calm. It looked like the Debbie, Kris, and Justin were in shock.
David decided to break the ice. They had to get on with their
lives even though they have new bodies. "Well," he said raising his
glass. "Happy Gnu Year!"